The player of the game for DeLand was Chauncey Kennedy, who not only scored 10 points but shut down NSB leading scorer Desmond Mitchell.

Mitchell was averaging 25.5 points per game in the tournament but Kennedy limited him to 1-of-8 shooting and five points.

“(Kennedy) was definitely the MVP tonight. He did a great and we had a good game plan and it was just whether or not we were going to execute it or not and we did,'' DeLand coach John Zeoli said. “Desmond Mitchell is one of the best players in all of Central Florida at the point position. He's just really tough and he didn't have a good night tonight.''

DeLand limited NSB to just 15-of-50 shooting from the floor and the Barracudas didn't help their cause by making just 15-of-26 free throws.

In a physical game that went down to the wire, New Smyrna Beach was whistled for two technical fouls – for four delay-of-game calls – in the final three minutes of regulation. Both calls resulted in two points and two possessions for the Bulldogs.

“I thought we missed a lot of easy shots and we gave them too many,'' NSB coach Steve Gawriluk. “I also thought we settled for too many threes early. We've just got to get better.

New Smyrna Beach got into early foul trouble, putting DeLand in the bonus in the opening quarter and helping the Bulldogs run out to a 14-6 lead.

The Barracudas opened the second quarter with a 14-8 run and drew to within 22-20, but the Bulldogs responded with a 7-0 run of their own and went to the intermission with a 31-24 margin.

Both teams started out shooting cold in the opening quarter but warmed up from then on, with the Bulldogs hitting a scorching 6-of-8 field goals in the second quarter.

DeLand found foul trouble to start the third quarter, allowing the visitors to pull within 42-36 before the Bulldogs answered with six straight.

<p><b>DELAND --</b> Just before the Christmas Break, DeLand took a 70-60 whooping at New Smyrna Beach.<ep></p><p> That didn't sit well with the Bulldogs (10-4), who returned the favor Saturday night in defeating the Barracudas 62-51 in the championship game of the Gus Gibbs Basketball Tournament at DeLand High.<ep></p><p> “At their place they wanted it more and we were on a winning streak so we got a little overconfident,'' DeLand guard Monolito Hamilton said. “We wanted it more this time.''<ep></p><p> Hamilton scored a game-high 19 points while Jason Burnell had 15 points and eight rebounds and Kyle Epping finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.<ep></p><p> The player of the game for DeLand was Chauncey Kennedy, who not only scored 10 points but shut down NSB leading scorer Desmond Mitchell.<ep></p><p> Mitchell was averaging 25.5 points per game in the tournament but Kennedy limited him to 1-of-8 shooting and five points.<ep></p><p> “(Kennedy) was definitely the MVP tonight. He did a great and we had a good game plan and it was just whether or not we were going to execute it or not and we did,'' DeLand coach John Zeoli said. “Desmond Mitchell is one of the best players in all of Central Florida at the point position. He's just really tough and he didn't have a good night tonight.''<ep></p><p> NSB (12-3) got 11 points out of Marcus Johnson while Davarez Bryant finished with seven points and eight rebounds.<ep></p><p> DeLand limited NSB to just 15-of-50 shooting from the floor and the Barracudas didn't help their cause by making just 15-of-26 free throws.<ep></p><p> In a physical game that went down to the wire, New Smyrna Beach was whistled for two technical fouls – for four delay-of-game calls – in the final three minutes of regulation. Both calls resulted in two points and two possessions for the Bulldogs.<ep></p><p> “I thought we missed a lot of easy shots and we gave them too many,'' NSB coach Steve Gawriluk. “I also thought we settled for too many threes early. We've just got to get better.<ep></p><p> New Smyrna Beach got into early foul trouble, putting DeLand in the bonus in the opening quarter and helping the Bulldogs run out to a 14-6 lead.<ep></p><p> The Barracudas opened the second quarter with a 14-8 run and drew to within 22-20, but the Bulldogs responded with a 7-0 run of their own and went to the intermission with a 31-24 margin.<ep></p><p> Both teams started out shooting cold in the opening quarter but warmed up from then on, with the Bulldogs hitting a scorching 6-of-8 field goals in the second quarter.<ep></p><p> DeLand found foul trouble to start the third quarter, allowing the visitors to pull within 42-36 before the Bulldogs answered with six straight.<ep></p><p> </p><p><b>DELAND 62, NSB 51</b></p><p><b>NSB (12-3)</b> Dez Mitchell 5, Johnson 11, Jackson 2, Dia. Mitchell 9, Arnold 4, Merrick 2, Carlin 8, Halton 3, Bryant 7. Totals 15 15-26 51</p><p><b>DELAND (10-4)</b> Kennedy 10, L. Hamilton 2, M. Hamilton 19, Chavers 2, Epping 10, Burnell 15, Dean 3. Totals: 20, 17-24 62</p><p><b>NSB 6]18 11 15--51</p><p>DeLand 14 17 13 16--62</b></p><p>3-point goals—NSB 6 (Dez Mitchell 1, Johnson 2, Carlin 2, Halton 1), DeLand 4 (M. Hamilton 3, Dean 1). Total fouls—NSB 16, DeLand 18. Fouled out—none. Technical fouls—NSB 2</p><p><b>DELRAY BEACH VILLAGE 62, TRINITY CHRISTIAN 58</b></p><p><b>VILLAGE (11-2)</b> Campbell 1, Tyson 20, Smith 15, Allen 12, Louis 12, White 2. Totals: 17, 24-29 58</p><p><b>TRINITY (5-8)</b> Burns 2, Kimmig 6, Lawrence 8, Fernandez 14, Perez 14, Rea 8. Totals: 22, 4-8 58</p><p><b>Village 14 17 17 14--62</p><p>Trinity 9 22 9 18--58</b></p><p>3-point goals—Village 4 (Tyson 3, Louis 1), Trinity 10 (Kimmig 2, Lawrence 2, Fernandez 3, Perez 1, Rea 2). Total fouls—Village 8, Trinity 17. Fouled out—Lawrence. Technical fouls—none</p>